It is with great sadness that we share the news of the death of Lee Dirks, Director for Portfolio Strategy at Microsoft Research Connections, and a terrific iSchools Organization friend and advocate.

Lee’s work at Microsoft allowed him to work closely with academic and research organizations to help solve some of the world’s most challenging scientific and social problems via collaborative research projects. He was a frequent iConference participant, presenter and sponsor, and very well known to all Conference attendees. His support for the work we do at our Information schools was invaluable, and his presence will be a great loss for all who knew and worked with him.

Lee and his wife were tragically killed in an automobile accident while on vacation in Peru. They leave behind two young daughters.